Singer Darius Rucker explains why he cried when South Carolina advanced to Final Four

Every South Carolina fan has seen it by now. Singer and songwriter Darius Rucker wasn’t going to miss the Gamecocks’ Elite 8 matchup with the Florida Gators at Madison Square Garden on Sunday. Then afterwards, he couldn’t hold back his emotions and camera caught him crying.

Rucker tried to explain why he felt so many emotions after the victory.

“We were like, ‘man, we’re in the Garden watching the Gamecocks go to the Final Four,’” Rucker said according to Uproxx.com. “If you’d have told me that 10 years ago, I’d have told you that you were on crack. And here we are doing it. Being in the Garden for this made it even more special.

“Yeah, the Gamecocks made me cry today. That was special to be a part of man, really special to be a part of.”

Rucker also explained that over the last five years, he and coach Frank Martin have become good friends. Martin didn’t cry on camera, but he was so pleased to have the emotional support of his friend.

“Everyone knows Darius,” Martin said after the Elite Eight win over the Gators. “But to see how important this school is to him, as successful as he is in life, just continues to show me what special people we have supporting our university.”

In case you missed it, below is a video of an obviously emotional Rucker at the end of Sunday’s victory. They certainly are tears of joy.